INFLIGHT COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FACTS:

• Inflight communications is safe! The Picocell System technology developed to facilitate this service allow for a passenger to use his/her own cell phone and is proven NOT to interfere with aircraft systems or terrestrial communications. Transmission of wireless signals including data, text and voice are absolutely safe and have been fully approved and certified on numerous aircraft types by the European Aviation Safety Agency (the European equivalent of the FAA).
• While the FAA and the FCC remain undecided on the future of inflight voice communication, the rest of the world currently permits inflight passenger communication choices that include e-mail, instant messaging, interactive electronic activity, texting and voice. America is now trailing the rest of the world.
• Passenger voice communications are already fully operational in foreign aviation markets and there is an enthusiastic passenger response. Since 2007, inflight communication services have been provided in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
• International carriers offering, or have signed up to offer, inflight voice and data communications include (among others): Emirates, Air France, Qantas Airways, Ryanair, U.K. carrier BMI, Shenzhen Airlines (China), Emirates, Oman Air, TAP Air Portugal, AirAsia, and Turkish Airlines.
• Where service is approved, passengers have widely accepted and used this capability and see it as a natural and obvious evolution.
• Airlines and their service provider partners are pro-actively and successfully promoting appropriate phone etiquette to encourage the reasonable and responsible use of inflight voice connectivity. This has proven to be extremely effective in daily operations.
• The social issues have been effectively addressed by a multilayered response that include phone etiquette and cabin crew control of communications such as no service at night and no service during take off & landing.
• There are a finite number of communication lines (typically 6-12 lines per aircraft) which limits the number of simultaneous calls at any one time.
• Inflight call costs are comparable to international roaming charges; thus, calls tend to be short in duration (less then three minutes).
• Airlines and their service provider partners are pro-actively and successfully promoting appropriate phone etiquette to encourage the reasonable and responsible use of inflight voice connectivity. This has proven to be extremely effective in daily operations.
• Existing background aircraft sounds already cancel out most normal conversations beyond a seat row.
• Passengers are positive about increased productivity and comforted by continuous communication availability.
• Inflight connectivity offers a new communications marketplace for technology providers and a new range of customer conveniences and services for airlines. Allowing passengers to stay in touch when they fly is a service enhancement consistent with cellular ground communications.

MOBILE PHONE PASSENGER SURVEY RESULTS:

• Over 80% of the passengers travel with their cell phone
• Over 80% of ground-use of cell phone is voice
• Over 70% of the passengers leave their cell phone on so they can be reached
• Over 90% of the passengers would answer an incoming call
• Over 80% of the passengers would make a call
• Over 80% cite no issues with fellow passengers on a mobile phone
• The results didn’t vary significantly by type of traveler (business or leisure)

PASSENGER SURVEY COMMENTS:

• “... (availability of inflight cell phones) has solved my problem to keep me connected... with clients... during flight…” Emirates frequent business traveler
• “(this service) allowed me to settle urgent matters so I can now relax” …Air France passenger
• “….Brilliant - please install on all flights….” Qantas passenger
• “Why did it take so long to offer this …” Air France Passenger
• “I was able to receive updates on a family emergency…” TAP Air Portugal passenger

AIRLINE EXECUTIVE QUOTES:

• “Passengers have reacted matter of factly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world” Patrick Brannelly, Emirates Airline – world’s first airline to offer cellular voice calls to passengers
• “We are seizing every opportunity to offer customers the latest technological innovation while continuing to make their travel comfort and well being our main priority…” Patrick Roux, Air France
• “The 9 month evaluation of this new technology was a great success,” John Borghetti, Qantas Airways
• “This is a win-win for Ryanair … and most importantly our customers.” Michael O’Leary, Ryanair
• “We pride ourselves on our high levels of service, including [voice communications] to all our guests is truly a great opportunity…” Hitesh Patel, Kingfisher Airlines
• “Royal Jordanian is at the forefront of e-travel … including voice communications enabling our passengers to carry on their travel planning, as well as to communicate with colleagues, friends and families, in exactly the same way they can on the ground …” Samer Majali, Royal Jordanian

RESPONSE TO INFLIGHT COMMUNICATION OPTION:

• vnunet.com: 4 Aug 2008 by Iain Thomson, “Both the EU and the UK’s Ofcom have already approved the use of mobile phones in aircraft, so this bill could spark confusion on American carriers flying the transatlantic route.”
• The Economist: 7 Aug 2008 by Peter Schrank, “Mobile phones on planes may not be as annoying as some people think… in short fears that inflight telephony will be a nuisance, rather than a benefit, seem to be wide of the mark”
• Christian Science Monitor: 13 Aug 2008 by Alexandra Marks, “The FCC is no longer opposed to cell phone use in planes; technology has resolved safety concerns; and polls released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that Americans are now split on whether it would be advisable to let the passenger in the next seat chat up his brother on the phone.”